Who can resist giving tidbits to a soulful pair of puppy or kitty eyes that plead for a bite of what you are eating, despite the fact that some human foods are toxic poison to your pet. The holidays are particularly touchy when your guests can hardly resist sneaking bits of food to your begging pets. While they mean well, it is best to ask that they not indulge your pets right up front so there is no question what your rules are.
Veterinarian Dr. Al Paredes says what you and your house guests don’t know CAN kill your dog or cat. Here’s a list of what NOT to feed your pets.

Foods That Are Most Toxic To Dogs and Cats

Avocados
Avocados contain a very toxic component called Persin to most animals that can damage lung, heart, and other tissue in many animals.Beer & Other Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages can damage an animal’s liver and brain, and the effects can be deadlier on animals than on humans since they are much smaller than we are.Nuts
Two types of nuts are especially toxic: walnuts and macadamia nuts. The toxic effects can include vomiting to paralysis to death. Within 12 hours of eating the nuts, the pet starts to develop symptoms such as weakness , an elevated heart rate, an inability to stand or walk, vomiting, and hyperthermia (elevated body temperature.) These symptoms can be even more severe if your dog eats some chocolate with the nuts and can lead to kidney failure, and death.Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine, and it can kill your pet if they eat it in large quantities. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous because these do not have the extra ingredients used in making milk chocolate which reduces the amount of theobromine in a serving. Giving your puppy a piece of chocolate candy, chocolate cake or chocolate icing could cause him to become ill. It can also cause a dog or cat’s heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly especially if the animal is being especially active after eating chocolate.Candy and Artificial Sweeteners
Candy, cookies, drinks, gum or anything containing Xylitol (a common sweetener found in some diet products) can cause a sudden drop in an animal’s blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. If left untreated, the animal could die.Caffeine
Coffee, tea, soft drinks, some candies and baked goods or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal’s central nervous and cardiac systems. This can lead to heart palpitations, restlessness, and even death, depending on how much the animal consumes.Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. The toxic effects are cumulative. That means even if a dog eats just one or two grapes or raisins regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him.Onions, Garlic, Chives
Onions can destroy an animal’s red blood cells and lead to weakness, anemia, and breathing difficulties. Their effects are also cumulative as the toxins build up in the system over time.Raw Yeast Dough
Raw Yeast dough can rise in your pet’s digestive system causing gas to accumulate. This can be quite painful and can even cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. The risk diminishes after the dough is fully cooked because the yeast has fully risen, so pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, the amount should be limited because of the high calories.Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
Both raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli that can be very harmful to pets. Also, raw eggs contain an enzyme called Avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), and that can cause skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.Salt
Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. In other words, keep those salty chips to yourself!Milk
Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.Medicine Meant For Humans
A very common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a prescribed or over-the-counter medicine or drug meant for humans. So hide these medicines from your pets as diligently as you would hide them from a child.Read The Label
Before you decide to give your pet any leftovers that have been processed (like that last few bites of canned beef & vegetable soup) you should read the label. Many processed foods contain high quantities of sodium (salt) and onions or onion powder for flavor. Some can even contain Xylitol or other artificial sweeteners that may be dangerous to your pet.
If you see signs that your dog or cat seems distressed in any way, bring them in to see us right away. You can call us at 727-785-7200 to discuss what you are observing that is causing you concern about your pet
During the hours our vet clinic is closed the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is a good resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435.
Don’t put off calling or bringing your dog or cat to the pet clinic if you suspect they have eaten something they shouldn’t. Foods that are toxic to dogs and cats can cause damage quickly, so fast treatment is the best option.

According to Dr. Al Paredes at Day and Evening Pet clinic, “The earlier you start dental care and dental cleaning with your pets, the better. We can teach you how to care for your pet’s teeth to prevent problems.”

A dog’s 28 baby teeth will fall out and be replaced by 42 permanent teeth. In cats, the 26 baby teeth will be replaced by 30 permanent teeth. If the baby teeth don’t fall out and the permanent teeth come in under them, it can cause gum irritation and increased tartar formation. Bad breath is often the very first indicator of dental problems.

Up to 80% of pets over the age of 3 years are affected by dental disease with serious consequences. Bacteria formed by dental problems can migrate to, and infect, the intestines, the kidneys, the heart, and even cause joint problems in dogs and cats. You can prevent some of these serious side effects with regular dental cleanings.

“If your pet is over 3 years of age, I recommend scheduling a dental checkup at our clinic. If we determine a dental cleaning is necessary, we can do pre-anesthesia blood work to make sure your pet does not have any underlying problems. We can check to make sure that kidneys liver and blood counts are within an acceptable range,” said Dr. Paredes.

The dental cleaning we perform is similar to the human cleaning you get at your dentist. We remove tartar and check for gum disease, cavities, loose teeth and any abnormal growths.

We offer a special value price on dental cleaning for dogs and cats at our pet clinic in Palm Harbor, FL. Click here to get your discount coupons. Leave a reply if you have a story to tell about your pet’s teeth. With good, regular dental care and dental cleaning, your pet can enjoy a healthy life.

The spay neuter decision for your dogs and cats is an important one for pet owners. It is important to understand the impact of the decision as animal lovers who value your pets.

It happens in Pinellas and Pasco County

In some states, up to 300,000 homeless animals are euthanized in animal shelters every year. The animals that are not adopted, and must be euthanized are not always the offspring of homeless “street” animals. Often, they are the puppies and kittens of cherished family pets and include purebreds.Dr. Al Paredes, spay neuter vet at Day and Evening Pet Clinic in Palm Harbor, Florida reminds us that, “In every community in Pinellas County and Pasco County, there are many homeless animals. In the United States, the estimated number of homeless animals that enter animal shelters each year is 6-8 million. Only about half of these animals are adopted. Unfortunately, the other half is euthanized. These are healthy, good natured pets that would have made great companions for families or those who live alone.”

Without spay neuter your pet’s offspring could become shelter animals

“Too many people believe that their pet’s puppies or kittens would never become homeless shelter animals,” says Dr. Al Paredes, “but the sad reality is that each time the family dog visits the neighbor’s female dog, or the indoor/outdoor cat returns home pregnant once again, the result is another litter of dogs or cats. Even if the puppies or kittens are placed into homes, they can end up in an animal shelter if they become difficult to handle, or can reproduce and their offspring can wind up homeless.”
It is a real tragedy that more than 3 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters in the United States each year.

You can be part of the solution

Spay neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats.
Veterinarian Dr. Al Paredes said, “These millions of pet deaths each year are a needless misfortune. By spaying and neutering your pet, you can be an important part of the solution. Contact Day and Evening Pet Clinic today for an appointment to find out about our low cost spay neuter services for your dog or cat and be sure to let your family and friends know that they should do the same.”
Our pet clinic offers low cost spay neuter vet services for Pinellas and Pasco County – Get discount coupons for spay neuter and vaccines at http://www.spavet.com or call us at 727-785-7200.
Serving Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey Florida with low cost spay neuter services.

Spay Neuter Veterinarian New Port Richey Florida

Here’s what a Veterinarian for New Port Richey Florida has to say about spay, neuter, and vaccination programs for cats and dogs in Pasco and Pinellas counties Florida.

Dr. Al Paredes suggests, “As a vet serving the pets of New Port Richey Florida, your pet will stay healthier, be happier, and be more enjoyable to be around if you bring your pet in to see us for our low-cost spay and neuter or vaccine programs.”

Our vet clinic is an after hours, day and evening hours pet clinic. Our pet clinic is open 6 days a week. And we take walk-ins, or you can call to set an appointment.

And we’re conveniently located at 3206 Alternate 19 Highway in Palm Harbor Florida, just north of Alderman Road.

You can drop your pet off before you go to work, and have them home later that same day after their surgery.

Oh, and as a gift to your pet, go to www.spavet.com to get your discount spay neuter, and vaccine coupons to save money on your pets needs.

So if your pet needs routine surgery, vaccines, spay, neuter or more, call us today at (727) 785-7200. We also provide routine pet care. Plus, we have a full service pharmacy.

Spay Neuter Veterinarian Holiday Florida

If you live near Holiday Florida, and your dog or cat needs spay neuter or vaccines, let our veterinarian and vet staff for Holiday, Florida take care of your dog or cat .

If your pet …dog or cat…needs a vet…our veterinarian at the veterinary clinic for Holiday Florida… is just what you need!

Yes… finally, there is a after hours, day and evening hours pet clinic open for your dogs or cats in Pinellas or Pasco County.

Our veterinarian Dr. Al Parades has been in practice over 25 years….so he’s really good at what he does for pets.

And we’re conveniently located at 3206 Alternate 19 Highway in Palm Harbor Florida, just north of Alderman Road and just minutes from Holiday, Florida.

Because your pet’s care and your convenience are our top priorities, our pet clinic is open 6 days a week. And we take walk ins …or you can call to set an appointment.

We even have evening and weekend hours to care for your pets. Or you can drop them off before you go to work …and have them home later that same day after their surgery.

Our team of highly trained veterinarian and friendly vet staff are ready to give you instant service to help you and your cats or dogs…whether they need routine surgery, vaccines, spay, neuter or more…because we also provide routine pet care…plus we have a full service pharmacy.

So call us today at (727) 785-7200. Our veterinarian and vet staff looks forward to help your Holiday Florida cats and dogs with their veterinary needs today.